Abdomen-depressing means.



1 PATBN-TBD DB0. 5, 1905.

- A.A G. DU PBLL.

ABDOMEN DBPRESSING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, 1905.

" UNITED STATES; `PATENT orrron.

ABBIE, c. nu PELL, oF vALLEGHENY,APErnvsrLvAruA.

ABDOIVIEAN-DEPiRESSING MEANS.

'ing means for use with corsets, abdominal bandages, hip-forms, and like devices, its

main object being to provide simple and suitable means to draw the lower portion of the corset or like device inwardly and'backwardly, and so depress or hold in the abdomen and greatly improve the figure, and to accomplish the same by simple means and without bringing strain upon the stockings or other portion of the wearin apparel.

- The invention has also the urther advantage thatit yprovides support for a weakinstep, such as in thecase of a liat foot, and is helpful in walking,l while there is no binding of any of the parts such as would stop circulation. To these ends the invention consists, gen'- erally stated, in abdomen-depressing means, such as a corset or abdominal bandage, combined with a strap connected to the .front bottom 'edge of the corset or bandage and adapted to extend downwardly and backwardly to a loop adapted to pass around the foot. y

It also consists in certain other improvements in connection with such strap, as' will be hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1A is a view of the retainer before it is applied to the person. Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the application of the sarnein one form, and Figs. 4 and 5 another way in which it'may be eme ployed.

The simplest form of the retainer is a strap extending from the .front lower edge of the corset or abdominal bandage downwardly and backwardly,passing thence around the outer portion of the lower limb and having a loop passing around the instep or hollow of the foot. This is illustrated in Fig. 2, where the main strap 1 is secured to the corset, abdominal bandage, or like device 2 and passes thence between the limbs along the back of the knee and around the'outside of the lower limb, the loop 3 passing around the instep.

Specification of Lett-ers Patent; n

Application led February 9, '1905. Serial No. 244,916-

Patented. Dec. 5, 1905.

If desired, I may employ in connection with the main strap 1 a garter 4,' arranged to fit below the knee, and which in its preferred form does not fit sufficiently tight to bind around the limb, its main purpose ubeing to hold the mainstrap close to the back of the limb, though the stocking fitting over the limb after the retainer has been applied will generally serve this purpose sufficiently well. The garter 4 is shown in Fig.. 4 as being secured by a button and buttonhole 5 or like device on the front of the limb. In-connectionwiththe retainer and to hold down the rear of an abdominal bandage' or corset I may also employ the rear strap 6, connected to thev lower edge of the rear portion of the full lines in Fig. 5. The main strap 1 is pref-' erably non-elastic, except for a short portionk thereof, such as the portion 7. in the lower part of the strap, which will give the desired yielding motionin walking and hold up the arch of the foot'if it is weak and increase the springiness of the stepv in walking. The

retainer may be arranged to be' connected to the corset or like device in'any suitable way, such as by the han er 8, vto which the two straps, one for each imb, are connected, thisl hanger being arranged to be hung yat the forward end of the corset and, like hangers 9, connecting the straps 6 to the back straps when they are used. The several straps may of course be made separate and sewed to the different parts of the corset. Any suitable means may also be provided for the support v of the stockings, such as the elastic strap 10,

leading from the main strap 1 near its upper end and connected to the front portion of the stocking or elastic strap l 1, leading from the rear strap. 6 and connectedto the rear portion of the stocking. These straps 10 or 1l may be made suflciently elastic simply to support the stockings without bringing strain upon the sa'meand tearing the same, as the entire strain of holding in the corset and supportinoP the abdomen is received by the retainer an carried down to the foot;`

When the apparatus is in use, it may be connected to the corset before or after it is placed upon the body, and the strap 1 when used as illustrated in-Figs. 2 and 3 is carried backwardly between the limbs and thence roo' IIO

around the outside of the lower limb and the loop 8 passed around the foot, resting over the arch or around the hollow thereof. lf a garter or like retainer at the knee is employed, the garter may then be fastened around the knee and the stocking drawn on and connected to the stocking-supporter, The main strap may also be used as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, being carried to the rear of the limb at about the knee and held in about that position by the garter 4 or the back strap 6 and then carried around the inner side of the lower limb and passed around the foot, as shown at 12, Figs. 4 and 5. Either way of employing the retainer is comfortable, because the entire strain is carried to the foot instead of carried to the stocking or knee, and while the device serves to hold in the base or lower portion ofthe corset or abdominal support, it may be made sufliciently loose to free the parts from any binding effect such as would reduce or interfere with circulation, and in sitting the strain is relieved, while the parts hold naturally to position. At the same time a positive retainer is provided which draws backwardly or inwardly below the abdomen, causing the corset to fit neatly to the ligure, insuring such retaining of the corset or bandage in position as to perform the necessary depressing functional aetion and improve the figure of the wearer and relieving the wearing-apparel from strain. If desired, the retainer can be put under such yielding strain as will act to positively support the arch of the foot in case of weakness at suoh point and will aid in raising the foot,

`imparting a special springiness in walking.

The retainer naturally lies close to the limb when in use and is of course entirely hidden by the stocking covering the same.

What I claim is- 1. An abdomen-depressing device having a strap connected to the front bottom portion thereof and extending downwardly and having a loop adapted to pass around the foot.

2. An abdomen-depressing means having a strap connected to the front bottom portion thereof and adapted to extend back of the limb, and having a loop adapted to pass around the foot.

3. An abdomen-depressing device having a strap connected to the front bottom portion thereof and extending downwardly and having a loop adapted to pass around the foot, and a garter adapted to it around the limb and hold the strap in place.

' 4. An abdomen-depressing device having a strap connected to the front bottoni portion thereof and extending downwardly and having a loop adapted to pass around the foot, and a back strap connected to the rear bottom portion of the abdomen-de])ressing device and extending downwardly to and connected to the main strap.

5. An abdomen-depressing device having a strap connected to the front bottoni portion thereof and extending downwardly and havinga loop adapted to pass around the foot, a back strap connected to the rear bottoni edge of the abdomen-depressing device and extending downwardly to and connected to the main strap, and a garter adapted to pass around the limb.

6. An abdomen-depressing device having a strap connected to the front bottoni portion thereof and extending downwardly and having a loop adapted to pass around the foot, and a stocking-supperter connected to the main strap and adapted to engage the stocking.

In testimony whereof l, the said Annrn G. DU PELL, have hereunto set my hand.

ABBIE G. DU PELL. Witnesses:

ROBERT C. To'r'rnN, G. C. RAYMOND. 

